Crimping machine



Feb. 22, 1966 E. L. SHARP 3,236,087

CRIMPING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EW/A/G L. SHARP EDWARD D. O'BR/AA/ ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1966 E. L. SHARP3,236,087

CRIMPING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1963 Era. .3.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w INVENTOR. EW/A/G L. SHARP T M Z 0 oB/e/Au I v DWAED11 ma //2 /04 it Aw-oeway Feb. 22, 1966 E. L. SHARP 3,236,087

CRIMPING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1963 26 FIG. 8.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 f/ l26 O O; 57 4/ 52 i //4 /85 gizfiflm I k mg //0 I IW &4 66 W 25 (94 1-7221. 9. FIG. 13. 50

INVENTOR. E W/A/G L. SHARP BY L EDWAED D. OER/AN Arrow/5y Feb. 22, 1966SHARP 3,236,087

CRIMPING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 m M M M f 2 WH I555 0% L m 0 J w A 2F E w v 8 w z mwv y 2 MW a 2 a 4 \n w z United StatesPatent 3,236,087 CRIMPING MACHINE Ewing L. Sharp, 11032 Aqua Vista St.,North Hollywood, Calif. Filed Apr. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 271,030 16 Claims.(Cl. 72306) This invention relates to crimping machines particularlyadapted to crimp electric terminals on the ends of electric wires.

Crimping machines are known in the art. The normal crimping equipmentcomprises a plier like device which is manually held and operated. Thiscrimper embraces a tubular portion of a wire terminal in which the endof the wire has been inserted, and with manual force the tubular sectionis crushed and deformed into intimate relationship with the insertedwire. Power operated crimpers are also known, and these crimpers are ofgenerally the same nature as the hand-operated device. They are anevolvement of the manually operated plier like device and incorporatethe same type of die and operate on generally the same principle. Theyare simply more rigid and have power means to actuate the crimping die.

The crimping machine in the instant invention, however, is part of anentire system of packaging, handling, transporting, storing and applyingwire terminals on the ends of wires. The concept of the presentinvention is to handle terminals in individual packages which areconnected together in such a manner that each terminal is protected fromdamage from abrasion and is protected from dust and surroundingcontamination. The packages are formed by having a series of bubbles orpockets formed in a flexible plastic sheet. A wire terminal is placed ineach one of the pockets and the pockets are covered by a continuousflexible sheet. Thus each pocket or bubble is closed to preventcontamination and abrasion damage of the wire terminal enclosed in eachpocket. The terminals may be packaged by automatic machinery and thepackage of a plurality of pockets is preferably continuous. Thepackaging is then rolled up on a spool for storage and transport.

The instant invention is directed to a machine for removing theterminals from the pockets, placing them in a convenient location forinsertion of a wire, and crimping the terminals upon the wire.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide a machine for removingthe terminals from the package and placing them sequentially in aposition for insertion of the wire, and thereupon crimping the terminalover the wire.

It is another object of this invention to provide a crimping machinewhich automatically handles the wire terminal from package to crimping.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine which iseconomic, rapid and easily operated so that it crimps terminals upon thewires with minimum cost.

It is another object of this invention to provide a handling andcrimping machine which handles wire terminals from storage to crimpingwithout causing the wire terminals to become abraded or contaminated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe attached specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the entire crimping machine withhousing in place;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the machine in FIG- URE 1 taken alongthe line 22 of FIGURE 1 with the side cover removed;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the machine taken along the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 1 with the cover removed;

ice

FIGURE 4 is a partial section through the machine along the center line44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial section taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a partial section taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the same section with themachine in a difierent operative position;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial view taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 10 is a section taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 11 is a section taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a section taken along the line 12-12 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG- URE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a schematic view of the pneumatic control circuit of thisinvention; and

FIGURE 15 is a section taken along the line 1515 of FIGURE 12.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of thecrimping machine 10 with its covers 12 in place. The front cover 12carries a receptacle 14 for guiding an inserted wire onto which aterminal is to be crimped. A foot controlled operator 16 is arranged atthe end of a flexible control tube 18 so that it may be convenientlylocated next to the operators foot. A hand controlled operator 20 islocated at the front of the machine 10 convenient for manual operation.A bracket 22 carries a carton 24 of tape 26. The tape 26 is stored incarton 24 and is brought to the machine in the carton. The tape 26comprises a fiat sheet on one side and a sheet secured thereto andformed with a plurality of bubbles on the other side. Each of thesebubbles contains a wire terminal.

As is best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, the tape enters the machine andis guided into a guide 28. The guide carries the tape forward around acylinder 30. The cylinder has substantially hemi-cylindrical grooves 32cut axially in the circumference thereof. The grooves 32 are of suchconfiguration as to accept the bubbles formed in the tape 26. Anadjustment collar 34 is secured to the cylinder 30 and forms an edgestop for the tape 26. Its adjustab'ility permits tapes of diiferentwidths to be usedin the instant machine. The cylinder 30 is mounted on ashaft 36 which is mounted in bearing 38 in swinging frame 40. A.manualknob 42 on shaft 36 permits manual control of the cylinder 30. A ratchetwheel 44 is also .mounted on the shaft 36. Actuation of a hereinafterdescribed pawl advances the cylinder 30 by the amount of one groove 32and thereby advances the tape to a new bubble.

Also mounted on the swinging frame 40 is an air cylinder 46. The pistonrod 48 of the air cylinder 46 carries a bar 50 which in turn carries apawl 52 which is engaged with ratchet wheel 44. One cycle of aircylinder 46, through the ratchet and pawl mechanism advances thecylinder 30 by an amount equal to the spacing between two of the'hemi-cylindrical grooves 32.

Also mounted on the bar 50 is a forward extension 54 which is adjustablymounted thereon, and mounted on the forward extension 54 is a punch 56.Cooperating with punch 56 is a die 58. The punch and die set 56 and 58is located adjacent the end of cylinder 30 in such a manner as to punchoff a piece of the edge of tape 26 together with the associated end ofan electrical connec- 3 tor containing bubble secured thereto. in FIGURE7.

The swinging frame 40 is mounted in the main frame 60 on shafts 62 and64, see FIGURE 6. The shaft 62 carries a gear 66 with which is engagedrack 68. The rack 68 is operated by piston rod 70 of double acting aircylinder 72. The rod 70 carries a dog 74 which in turn engages a valveactuator 76 when the rod 70 is retracted into the cylinder 72. The valveactuator 76 carries a spring loaded member 78 which engages with valve80. The valve actuator 76 itself engages the valve 82. The cylinder 72is suitably mounted on the frame 60 and is connected pneumatically tothe remainder of the system for proper control.

The shaft 64 carries a sheave 84 upon which is wound a cable 86. Thelower end of cable 86 is connected to a link 88. Shaft 90 extendstransversely the main frame 60 and carries a lever 92. The lower end ofthe lever 92 is pivoted at 94 to the link 88. The upper end of the link88, adjacent the point where the cable 86 is attached thereto, is in.the configuration of a hook. The nose 96 extends from the link 88adjacent a recess 98 to form the hook configuration. A pin 100 ismounted in the main frame 60. When the sheave 84 rotates in a clockwisedirection through the agency of air cylinder 72, the cable 86 tightens,lifts the link 88 from pin 100 and rotates the shaft 90 in a clockwisedirection. When the sheave 84 thereafter rotates in counter clockwisedirection, the cable 86 becomes slack. The shaft 90 is permitted torotate in a counter clockwise direction under the control of other meansuntil it is in a position where the recess 98 engages upon hook 100.Then the shaft 90 becomes locked in this position until the sheave 84again rotates in a clockwise direction and removes the link 88 fromlooking engagement with pin 100.

The shaft 90 carries a head 102 thereupon. The head is rotatable underthe control of shaft 90 and aperture 104 extends through the head 102and several operative elements extend into the aperture upon actuationof the operative elements. A T-slide in the head 102 carries a slidingstop 106. A cam face 108, when engaged with an appropriate cam 110thrusts a stop-finger 112, mounted on stop 106 in front of the aperture104. A spring 114 retracts the stop 106 and stop finger 112 when the camface 108 is not in contact with cam 110.

Mounted on the side of the head 102 away from the stop 106 is a circularboss 116. The boss 116 is slotted at 118 to carry a plurality of slidingclamp members 120. The clamp members have jaws 122 which co-act togetherto clamp an electrical connector, when located therebetween. The clampmembers are urged inwardly by means of a garter spring 124 and eachclamp member 120 carries a pin 126 in engagement with a clamp memberretracting means. The retracting means comprises a substantially squareclamp operator 128 rotatably mounted on circular boss 116. The clampoperator 128 carries a nose 130 which is engaged by a slide 132 which isT-slot mounted in the head 102. The slide 132 carries a cam face 134which engages with a cam 136 for operation thereby. When the cam 136operates slider 132, the clamp operator 128 is rotated in such adirection as to open the jaws of 122. A spring 138 connected between thehead 102 and a pin 140 on the cam operator 128, urges the cam operator128 in such a direction as to permit the garter spring 124 to close thejaws 122. A funnel 142 is mounted on boss 116 co-axially with aperture104 to guide electrical connectors therein. The funnel 142 also acts asa flange member to hold the clamp operator 128 in position.

Also mounted in the head 102 are crimping means arranged to crimp anelectrical connector over a wire terminal clamped therein. Thesecrimping means comprise crimping dies of suitable nose configuration forthe purpose intended, mounted in radial holes 146 in crimping die holder148. The holes 146 are of two different This is best seen diameters,with a smaller diameter near the nose of the crimping dies 144 to serveas guide therefor, and the larger diameter to guide the head 152 of thecrimping dies 144. The space between serves as a pocket for springswhich cause retraction of the crimping dies 144. The construction isbest seen in FIGURES 11 and 12.

Surrounding the crimping die holder 148 is a die operator 156 whichcontains internal cam faces 158 which engage upon the end of thecrimping dies 144 away from the crimping die noses. Rotation of dieoperator 156 is accomplished by a lever 160. Upon clockwise rotation ofleverv 160 the cam faces 158 act upon the crimping dies 144 to closethem and cause crimping.

While four clamp members 120 and four crimping dies 144 are shown, it isobvious that any desirable number can be employed. In some cases threeclamps and three crimping dies will be satisfactory, but in general itis felt that three or more of such clamps and dies would be desirable.

Clockwise rotation of die operator 156 and lever 160 is caused by theextension of piston rod 162 from cylinder 164. Counter clockwiseoperation of lever 160 and die operator 156 is accomplished by a spring166 and causes opening of the crimping dies 144. The limit of opening ofthe crimping dies 144 is established by an adjustable stop screw 168mounted in head 102. Clockwise operation in the crimping direction islimited by an adjustable stop 170 located in the path of travel of lever160. The cylinder 164 is single acting, with air pressure in the top ofthe cylinder causing the rod 162 to extend, and the cylinder 164contains a spring 172 which causes retraction of the rod 162. The rod162 carries an adjustable actuating collar 174, see FIGURE 9, whichengages with a valve actuator 176 which is pivoted at 178. The valveactuator 176 is arranged in such a manner as to swing in a counterclockwise direction around pivot 178 when the piston rod and adjustableactuating collar 174 are moving in a downward direction. This does notcause actuation of the valve 180. However, retraction of the piston rod162, carrying adjustable actuating collar 174, causes engagement of thevalve actuator 176 to cause clockwise motion thereof around pivot 178and cause actuation of the valve 180.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the head 102 has two operative positions. Therotation in the clockwise direction, as viewed in this figure, is underthe control of shaft 90 which in turn is controlled by sheave 84. A dashpot 182 is mounted on the main frame 60 adjacent the clockwise positionof head 102. A cam lever 184 is pivoted at 186, near the bottom of camlever 184, to the main frame 60. Cam lever 184 is in engagement with theoperating piston rod 188 of the dash pot 182, and its cam face isadapted for engagement with the edge of the head 102. The dash pot isarranged in such a manner that motion of the rod 188 into the dash pot,in the leftward direction of FIGURE 4, is limited in speed by the flowof air or oil through an orifice in the dash pot. The cam face of camlever 184 is of such configuration so as to cause motion of the rod 188into the dash pot when the head 102 is moving in a counter clockwisedirection from its. most clockwise position, as shown in dotted lines inFIG- URE 4. Gravity acting on head 102 causes its descent: which isslowed by dash pot 182 in the manner previously described. The gravitymotion of head 102 may be aided by means of a spring (not shown).

Referring now to the schematic circuit of FIG. 14, an air supply sourceis seen at 190. This source delivers air to a conventional pressureregulator 192 which may be followed by a lubricator, if desired, notshown. Air under pressure is thus delivered to line 194 which in turnsupplies air under pressure to lines 196, 198 and 200. Branching fromline 200 is line 202 which supplies air under pressure to footcontrolled operator 16. The operator 16 is simply a shut-off valve whichis spring assess? urged in the oif position and in this position thefoot pedal 204 is in the upward, nonactuated position. Upon depressionof the foot pedal 204, air under pressure is supplied from line 202 toline 18. Connected to line 18 is a cylinder 206 containing plunger 208.When pressure is applied to line 18, the plunger 208 moves to the leftas seen in FIG. 14. Lever 210 is operatively connected to plunger 208 sothat it is actuated thereby. Lever 210 is pivoted at 212 and is alsoconnected to the hand controlled operator 20. When the plunger 208 isactuated to the left, its connection through lever 210 causes motion ofvalve stem 214 to the right. Valve stem 214 is located in valve body 216and line 196 is connected to supply air under pressure to the valve body216. Valve stem 214 carries lands of such configuration, that whenoperating in conjunction with ports in valve body 216 air is permittedto flow from line 196 to line 218 when the stem 214 is in itsright-hand, operative position. When the stern 214 is in its lefthand,non-operative position, line 196 is cut oif from communication with line218. Stem 214 also carries a piston on its right-hand end in such amanner that air on the right-hand end of this piston causes leftwardmotion of the valve stem 214. Line 220 is connected to line 218 andcontains therein a check valve-orifice structure 222 which is in turnconnected to the righthand side of the piston on stem 214. Checkvalve-orifice structure 222 is of conventional nature and is of suchtype that air flow to the right through this structure is unrestricted,while air flow to the left is controlled by the orifice therein.

Thus it can be seen that actuation of either foot controlled operator 16or hand controlled operator 20 causes air pressure to be communicated toline 220. However, the piston on valve stem 214 causes the air pressureto be disconnected after a short period depending upon the orifice inthe check valve-orifice structure 222. This surge of pressure in line220 is communicated by that line to the space above piston 224 mountedon piston rod 162. When such surge occurs the piston 224 is urgeddownwardly against spring 172 and carries with it the piston rod 162,which causes crimping as is hereinbefore described. When the pressure iscut off of line 220 by action of valve stem 214, under control oforifice in structure 222, the spring 172 urges the piston 224 in theupward direction. A vent 226 appropriately located in the side ofcylinder 164 permits the air above piston 224 to escape. During rise ofthe piston, the collar 174 causes actuation of valve 180. This has aneffect which is hereinafter described.

Valve body 228 of valve 230 contains a pressure port connected to airpressure line 198. The body also contains a spool 232 which carrieslands 234 and 236. Lines 238 and 240 are connected to ports in the valvebody 228 in such a manner as to be controlled by the lands 234 and 236on spool 232, and are connected to opposite ends of cylinder 72. Whenthe spool 232 is in its right-hand position it permits air underpressure to pass from air supply line 198 to line 240, and in thisposition the line 238 is either connected to vent to atmosphere orcontains a leak to atmosphere at 242. An orifice leak of this nature isalso located in line 240 at 244. Lands 234 and 236 contain axial orificeholes therethrough so that air pressure communicated to the centerportion of the spool 232 from line 198 is also communicated to the leftof land 234 and to the right of land 236.

Accordingly when the collar 174 actuates valve 180, line 246 connectedto the space at the left-hand of land 234 is vented to atmospherethrough valve 180. Spool 234 then passes to the left through the agencyof air pressure passing from the center of the spool to its righthandend through the orifice in land 236 thus causing the spool 234 to closecommunication of air pressure from line 198 to line 240 and opencommunication from in FIG. 14.

line 198 to line 238. Pressure in line 238 passes into the double actingair cylinder 72 and retract the piston rod 70 with attached rack 68. Airon the other side of the piston in cylinder 72 bleeds out of the orifice244. Motion of dog 74 on the piston rod 70 causes it to engage the valveactuator 76. Spring loaded member 78 actuates valve 80 which permitscommunication of pressure from line 200 to line 248. A checkvalve-orifice structure 250 in line 248 causes metering of the air inthe direction toward air cylinder 46. When the spring loaded member 78is not actuating valve 80, line 248 is connected to atmosphere and checkvalve-orifice structure 250 permits unrestricted flow of air from thecylinder 46 to atmosphere through valve 80. Spring 252 returns thepiston rod 48 into the cylinder 46.

Further actuation by retraction of piston rod 70 causes valve actuator76 to engage and actuate valve 82. Valve 82 is connected by line 254 tothe right-hand side of land 236 and actuation of valve 82 causes ventingof line 254 and the space to the right of land 236 to the atmosphere.When this occurs the spool 232 again shifts to the right. The shiftingcauses pressurization of line 240 from line 198, and accordingly extendsthe piston rod 70 from cylinder 72 to return the entire mechanism to theposition shown in the FIG. 14.

The operation of this equipment has been described in part, but acomplete cycle of operation is described below. Assuming that themachine has been in operation for some time, and the operator is readyto place another wire into the machine for crimping of a terminalthereon, the machine has its swinging frame 40 in the position shown inFIG. 4 with the piston rod 70 extended as shown in FIG. 2. Thissituation is also shown In this condition the terminal is clamped inproper location between the jaws 122 and the operator thrusts a strippedwire into the hollow end of the terminal. This operation may be aided bya guide 256 so that the wire goes easily into the hollow end of theterminal. Thereupon the operator depresses foot pedal 204 or handcontrol operator 20. This action permits air pressure to be communicatedfrom line 196 to line 220 and extends the piston rod 162. As seen inFIG. 3 the rod 162 engages with the lever 160 and causes actuation ofthe crimping dies 144. The hollow end of the terminal is crimped aroundthe wire in a very secure, electrically conductive fashion. Very shortlyafter crimping the communication between air pressure line 196 to line220 is terminated and the piston rod 162 is retracted into cylinder 164by agency of spring 172. Crimping has been completed.

When the collar 174 on piston rod 162 actuates valve 180, the line 246is exhausted and spool 232 moves to the left. Thereupon air pressure iscommunicated from line 198 to line 238 urging the piston rod 70 into thecylinder 72. This rotates the swinging frame 40 in a clockwise directionas viewed in FIGURE 2 into a position where the cylinder 46 extends tothe right as viewed in FIGURE 2. This position is seen in FIGURE 7. Thisrotation tightens cable 86 and lifts the hook off of pin 100. Continnedrotation of sheave 84 pulls the link 88 and causes the head 102 torotate from its vertical position, as shown in FIGURE 2, about the axisof shaft until it is in a horizontal position. When moving to thehorizontal position the head, carrying stop 106 and slide 132, causesengagement of the cam face 108 with cam 110 to thrust the stop finger112 in front of the aperture 104. Substantially concurrently therewith,the cam face 134 engages with cam 136 to cause opening of the clamp jaws122 and release of the jaws from clamping position. The clamping forceof the jaws 122 is such that the operator has previously pulled theconnector out of engagement with the jaws 122 by pulling the wire out ofaperture 104. As the head 102 goes up into horizontal position, itengages the cam lever 184 so that the upper 7 face of cam lever 184supports the head 102 against rapid downward movement.

Retraction of the piston rod 70, which causes this rotation of swingingframe 40, also causes the dog 74 to engage with the valve actuator 76and causes actuation of valve 80. Thus air is supplied from line 200 toline 248 and cylinder 46 is actuated. The piston rod 48 is extended andthrough the agency of pawl 52 engaging the ratchet wheel 44, thecylinder 30 indexed to a new hemicylindrical groove 32.

An appropriate tape having bubbles corresponding to the hemi-cylindricalgrooves 32 has previously been inserted through guide 28 and iscontrolled by the grooves 32 of the cylinder 30. A suitable wireconnector or terminals is packaged in each one of the bubbles in thetape 26 and these connectors are sufliciently loose in the bubbles tofall to the downward end of the bubble by gravity. Extension of thepiston rod 48 also moves the punch 56 into the die 58 and punches offthe top of the bubble. Further retraction of the piston rod 70 into thecylinder 72 actuates valve 82 to open line 284 to vent the atmosphere,and the spool 232 shifts to the right as shown in FIGURE 14. In thisposition of the spool 232 air is supplied from pressure line 198 to line240 and the piston rod 70 is again extended. Such extension rotates theswing frame 40 in a counter clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 2until the cylinder bottoms in the position shown in FIGURE 2. Thismotion of the piston rod 70 disengages dogs 74 from valve actuator 76and valve 80 thus line 248 is vented to atmosphere. This happensconcurrently with the swinging of the frame 40, and the wire connectorin the bubble that has just had its top punched off drops through guide258 into funnel 142, through aperture 104 until it hits stop finger 112.While cable 86 is slack in this condition, the cam lever 184 with itsdash pot 182 prevents rapid downward motion of the head 102. The headstays in the horizontal position in FIGURE 4 until the connector dropsinto the aperture against the stop 112 as described. The descent of head102 is timed so that the head drops after the connector is locatedtherein. In dropping, the head 102 rotates around the pivot of shaft 90in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 and the cam face134 leaves cam 136 to permit the jaws 122 to clamp the connector in theproper position. Thereafter the stop finger 112 is retracted and thehead 102 swings into the vertical position shown in FIGURE 4. It islatched in this position by having the recess 98 in link 88 hook on pin100. Now the machine is in a condition for a further actuation. Theoperator again thrusts a wire into the hollow end of the new connectorand operates the hand or the foot controlled operator, thereby causingthe machine to go into another cycle as hereinbefore described.

When one tape 26 runs out, another one can be inserted in the guide 28and the cylinder 30 rotated by means of manual knob 42 until the firstbubble therein is located in operative position. Exhausted tape, havingits wire terminals removed therefrom is guided out of the machinethrough a guide 258 for disposal as waste. If the new tape is ofdifferent width than the prior tape, because the connectors containedtherein are of a different length, the collar 34, which engages one edgeof the tape 26, is adjusted so that the opposite edge of the tape isadjacent the punch-die combination 56 and 58.

Having pointed out the preferred embodiment of this invention, it isobvious to those skilled in the art that numerous embodiments andmodifications within the skill of routine engineering are possible.Accordingly, it is requested that this invention be defined by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for operating upon wire connectors packaged oneconnector to a bubble in a continuous strip with the wire connectorsloose within the bubble, the invention comprising:

swingable frame means rotatable from a first position to a secondposition, punch means mounted upon said frame means and arranged topunch off one end of the bubble when said frame is in its firstposition, the wire connector falling from the bubble when said framemeans is moved to said second position;

head means to operate upon the wire connector, said head means beingpositioned in association with said frame means so as to receive theconnector falling from the bubble, said head meansincluding means tolocate the wire connector, means to clamp the wire connector and meansto crimp the Wire connector so that the wire connector is removed fromits package and crimped upon a wire in one continuous automaticoperation.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said swinging frame is connected tosaid means to punch off the end of the bubble to actuate said means topunch off the end of the bubble.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means to crimp is connected tosaid swinging frame means to rotate said swinging frame means. 7

4. The structure of claim 1 further including advancing means mounted onsaid frame means connected to advance a new connector containing packageinto operative position.

5. In a machine for operating upon wire connectors packaged loosely inindividual packages along a length of tape, the improvement comprising:

means to control the tape and advance it from one position to anotherposition in succession, swinging frame means swinging from a first to asecond position, said swinging frame means carrying said means tocontrol and advance the tape, said swinging frame means carrying punchmeans to cut off the end of one of the packages while the connector isheld in the other end thereof, means connected to said frame means toswing said swinging frame means from said first to said second positionso that the connector falls out of the open end of the package, meansadjacent the cut end of the package to guide the connector into aposition where it is accessible, means at the accessible position tostop the connector when it reaches the accessible position, means at theaccessible position to restrain the connector in the accessibleposition, and means at the accessible position to crimp the connector ona wire while it is in said accessible position.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said means to swing said frame fromsaid first position to said second position is connected to said guidemeans to control said guide means.

7. The structure of claim 5 further including a power means, said punchmeans and said tape advancing means being connected to said power meansto be operated by said power means.

8. The structure of claim 5 wherein said power means is air actuatedmeans.

9. In a machine for operating upon parts individually packaged in aplurality of packages associated together on a tape, the improvementcomprising:

a swinging frame pivoted to move from a first position to a secondposition, means connected to said swinging frame to move said swingingframe from said first position to said second position and back to saidfirst position, tape control means mounted on said swinging frame, saidtape control means advancing the tape serially from one position to anext position, package opening means mounted on said swinging frame andarranged to open a package when said swinging frame is in its firstposition;

guide means associated with said swinging frame, said guide meansguiding the part falling out of the open package when said swingingframe is in its second position, said guide means guiding the part to aposition where it may be operated upon.

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein the package opening means isconnected to said tape control means to cause advance of the tapepackages from one position to the next upon the operation thereof.

11. The structure of claim 9 wherein said package control meanscomprises a cylinder rotatably mounted on said frame, said cylinderhaving grooves corresponding to each package, power means connected tosaid cylinder to rotatably advance said cylinder upon each packageopening operation to serially bring new packages into position to beopened.

12. The structure of claim 9 wherein the parts are guided into a headmounted adjacent said swinging frame, means on said head to stop theparts in position and means on said head for clamping the parts inposition.

13. The structure of claim 12 further including means in said head tooperate on the part when it is clamped into position, said means toperate being crimping dies to crimp the part.

14. In a machine arranged to operate upon wire connectors individuallypackaged in loose packages serially connected together by tape, theimprovement comprisa swinging frame movable from a first position tosecond position and back to the first position, a cylinder mounted onsaid swinging frame, said cylinder having axially aligned groovescorresponding to the packages, means to advance said cylinder from onegroove to another so that the packages may be serially operated upon,package opening means comprising a punch and die to punch off the end ofa package While said swinging frame is in its first position, powermeans to advance said cylinder and to open said package;

an operating head having a first position and a second position, saidoperating head being moved into its first position by motion of saidswinging frame into its first position, said operating head moving intoits second position upon motion of said swinging frame into its secondposition;

guide means on said swinging frame for guiding the part as it falls fromits package when said swinging frame moves to its second position, saidguide means guiding said part into the operating head when saidoperating head is in its first position, said operating head thereaftermoving into its second position, stop means mounted in said operatinghead locating said part in said operating head, clamp means in saidoperating head operating to clamp said part as said operating head movesfrom its first position to its second position and means in saidoperating head to operate on the part when said operating head is in itssecond position.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said operating means is means tocrimp the part upon a wire.

16. The structure of claim 14 wherein power means is connected to saidswinging frame to rotate said swinging frame from said first position tosaid second position and power means is connected to operate saidoperating means to actuate said operating means to operate on the part.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,071,174 1/1963Kerns 1531 3,091,275 5/1963 Mentizer 1531 3,154,234 10/1964- Cootes153-1 X CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON WIRE CONNECTORS PACKAGED ONECONNECTOR TO A BUBBLE IN A CONTINUOUS STRIP WITH THE WIRE CONNECTORSLOOSE WITHIN THE BUBBLE, THE INVENTION COMPRISING: SWINGABLE FRAME MEANSROTATABLE FROM A FIRST POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION, PUNCH MEANSMOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME MEANS AND ARRANGE TO PUNCH OFF ONE END OF THEBUBBLE WHEN SAID FRAME IS IN ITS FRIST POSITION, THE WIRE CONNECTORFALLING FROM THE BUBBLE WHEN SAID FRAME MEANS IS MOVED TO SAID SECONDPOSITION; HEAD MEANS TO OPERATED UPON THE WIRE CONNECTOR, SAID HEADMEANS BEING POSITIONED IN ASSOCIATION WITH SAID FRAME MEANS SO AS TORECEIVE THE CONNECTOR FALLING FROM THE BUBBLE, SAID HEAD MEANS INCLUDINGMEANS